Golf club head

ABSTRACT

A golf club head includes a first shell portion, a second shell portion, and a reinforcing member. The first shell portion has a front striking face. The second shell portion complements with the first shell portion to form a unitary head body defining a hollow space. The second shell portion includes at least one carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer. The reinforcing member is embedded in the carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer, and is made of a material different from that of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a golf club head, more particularly to a golf club head with a composite structure.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional golf club head 1 includes a front striking portion 11 and a surrounding portion 12 extending from a periphery of the front striking portion 11. The front striking portion 11 and the surrounding portion 12 are usually made of the same material, and are formed integrally. If the conventional golf club head 1 is made of a non-metal material, such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic or wood, the overall weight thereof is relatively light. However, the non-metal golf club head lacks rigidity and is easily damaged. On the other hand, if the conventional golf club head 1 is made of a metal material, it is relatively difficult to fabricate and is relatively heavy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head which possesses good rigidity, and which permits setting of the center of gravity thereof.

Accordingly, the golf club head of this invention includes a first shell portion, a second shell portion, and a reinforcing member. The first shell portion has a front striking face. The second shell portion complements with the first shell portion to form a unitary head body defining a hollow space. The second shell portion includes at least one carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer. The reinforcing member is embedded in the carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer, and is made of a material different from that of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional golf club head;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fourth preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention is shown to include a first shell portion 2, a second shell portion 3, and a reinforcing member 32.

The first shell portion 2 is made of metal, and has a front striking face 21 and an interconnecting portion 22 for interconnecting the front striking face 21 and the second shell portion 3. The second shell portion 3 complements with the first shell portion 2 to form a unitary head body defining a hollow space 34. The interconnecting portion 22 is provided with an anchoring tube 23 for anchoring a shaft (not shown) to the golf club head. In the preferred embodiment, the anchoring tube 23 is integrated with the interconnecting portion 22, and is made of a material identical to that of the interconnecting portion 22.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second shell portion 3 includes an inner carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer 31 proximate to the hollow space 34, and an outer carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer 33. The reinforcing member 32 is embedded in the second shell portion 3, and is made of a material different from that of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic layers 31,33. Preferably, the reinforcing member 32 is made of metal. In the first preferred embodiment, the inner carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer 31 has an inner surface 311 facing the hollow space 34. The outer carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer 33 has an outer surface 331 opposite to the inner surface 311. The reinforcing member 32 has an outer surface 321 exposed from the outer surface 331 of the outer carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer 33 so as to promote flexibility in appearance variation of the golf club head. Referring again to FIG. 2, the reinforcing member 32 includes a plurality of spaced-apart strips 322 embedded in the outer carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer 33. The strips 322 extend in a direction transverse to the striking face 21.

Referring to FIG. 5, the second preferred embodiment of this invention is substantially identical to the first preferred embodiment except for the following:

The inner carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer 31′ has an inner surface 311′ facing the hollow space 34′. The reinforcing member 32′ has an inner surface 322′ exposed from the inner surface 311′ of the inner carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer 31′.

Referring to FIG. 6, the third preferred embodiment of this invention is substantially identical to the first preferred embodiment except that the reinforcing member 32″ is embedded entirely within the first and second carbon fiber reinforced plastic layers 31″,33″.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the fourth preferred embodiment of this invention is substantially identical to the first preferred embodiment except that it is formed in a different shape. The golf club head illustrated in the fourth preferred embodiment also includes the second shell portion 3″′ having two carbon fiber reinforced plastic layers 31″′ , and the reinforcing member 32″′ embedded in the second shell portion 3″′.

In addition to metal, the first shell portion 2 and the reinforcing member 32, 32′, 32″, 32″′ can be made of other materials, such as wood. Furthermore, the second shell portion 3,3″′ can include more than two carbon fiber reinforced plastic layers.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the golf club head of the present invention possesses good rigidity and permits setting of the center of gravity thereof.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A golf club head, comprising: a first shell portion having a front striking face; a second shell portion complementing with said first shell portion to form a unitary head body defining a hollow space, said second shell portion including at least one carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer; and a reinforcing member embedded in said carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer, and being made of a material different from that of said carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer.
 2. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer has an inner surface facing said hollow space and an outer surface opposite to said inner surface, said reinforcing member having an outer surface exposed from said outer surface of said carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer.
 3. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer has an inner surface facing said hollow space and an outer surface opposite to said inner surface, said reinforcing member having an inner surface exposed from said inner surface of said carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer.
 4. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing member is embedded entirely within said carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer.
 5. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shell portion is made of metal, said reinforcing member being made of metal.
 6. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing member includes a plurality of spaced-apart strips embedded in said carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer.
 7. The golf club head as claimed in claim 6, wherein said strips extend in a direction transverse to said striking face. 